Are any of the teens at your library blind? Do they have low vision? Are they interested in science?
Then they may want to apply for this year’s National Foundation of the Blind Youth Slam!
What is the NFB Youth Slam?
The short answer: The NFB Youth Slam is a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) academy to be held at the University of Maryland, College Park, from July 26-August 1, 2009. (more…)
As you know from the many posts here, the 2008 Ya Lit Symposium was awesome and amazing. The information, the contacts, the networking - it was a fabulous time, one of the best conferences I’ve ever attended. The next one, in 2010, will be November 5-7 in Albuquerque. (more…)
Do you have a book that you think is the perfect Printz book? If so, nominate it!
That’s right, the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature accepts field nominations. Meaning, people outside the committee can nominate a book.
I am fortunate enough to be on this year’s committee. Discussions and the nomination list are top-secret, so I cannot share with you the titles being discussed. I will ask you not to make any assumptions, so if you have read a real “winner” please nominate it.
Are you a Slytherin or a Gryffindor? Would you rather hang out with B or S or J? Which would you rather be, a vampire or a werewolf?
Fandom, according to Wikipedia, is “a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest.” You’d think wikipedia would be a little less dry…
Fandom happens when you love a book so much you cannot stop thinking about it. You want to discuss minute details with other fans. You want to immerse yourself in its world, maybe even dress like the characters dress and live like the characters live. Fandom happens when you’re so intrigued by a world that you start thinking of other stories that could take place in it.
It’s all of these things, and more. (more…)
The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) has put together a toolkit for libraries called Library Accessiblity - What You Need to Know. There are fifteen specific tipsheets, covering areas from patrons with cognitive, mental, or emotional illnesses to patrons who need assistive technologies and patrons with physical disabilities.
Many, if not all, the tips apply to Teen Services. For example, instead of asking the age or grade of a patron, ask for the name of a favorite book to determine reading level. Encourage teens with disabilities to volunteer. Reach out to teens who are homebound or are in institutions.
As I explained in my last post, the audiobook program run by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) is called the Talking Book program.
Lindsey Dunn broke the news about how the Digital Talking Books and System is moving forward — in a nutshell, switching from cassette books and players to digital books available on cartridge or via download and listened to on digital players.
I’m happy to share with you the Press Release from NLS which provides more details on the program, available at NLS Flash. It includes a photo of a NLS customer using the new digital player. Once more information becomes available, I’ll post that, also. In the meanwhile, if you have questions about the program or the new player or the download program, let me know!
Also, as a reminder, Talking Books is a free library service that is open to all people whose low vision, blindness, or physical handicap makes it difficult to read a standard printed page. The service includes the loan of the player.
I’m going to use my first post here to both introduce myself and my library. I’m starting off with a bit of an explanation, so when I post about offering services to and materials for “blind and other physically handicapped persons“ you’ll know where I’m coming from.
I’m Liz Burns; and I’m the Youth Services Consultant for the NJ State Library’s Library for the Blind and Handicapped (NJLBH). I work with patrons from ages 3 to 18.
Who are my customers? (more…)
